Mark Burnett and Roma Downey continue their thrust into feature production and have joined MGM and Paramount on the classic remake, set to open on February 26, 2016.

Timur Bekmambetov will direct the story of a wrongly accused nobleman condemned to years of slavery who exacts revenge on his best friend.

Flush from the success of Son Of God, the feature version of their smash series The Bible, the husband-and-wife producing team join producers Sean Daniel and Joni Levin.

Burnett will produce and Downey serve as executive producer alongside John Ridley, Keith Clarke and Jason F Brown.

In keeping with the outlook of Burnett and Downey, the film will focus on the nature of faith and revisit the themes of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ. Ridley will revise Clarke’s screenplay.

MGM will handle production. Paramount will distribute worldwide while MGM retains select territories and all television rights.

Charlton Heston starred in MGM’s celebrated 1959 film version Ben-Hur.

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